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My Name Is Memory
by Ann Brashares
by Ann Brashares
Stacia ~ Mistress of Mediocrity's review
bookshelves: adult
May 21, 12
bookshelves: adult
Read from November 22 to 25, 2010
Tonight I lost my book-throwing virginity. Sure, I've been tempted to chuck something across the room before, but have never actually done it until now.
Maybe the book didn't make it all the way across the room, but it was thrust off my lap with a certain amount of ferocity. Why, you ask? Because no book should EVER have the ending that I was just subjected to.
'My Name Is Memory' should have been a 5 star book. It was beautifully written, and I was captivated by the journey of one man traveling through several lifetimes, trying to right the wrongs that he had inflicted upon his one true love. With each new life Daniel was given, I followed him on the search for his "Sophia," and found myself hoping that this time would be "the time" that he would finally have her.
There was a bit of back-and-forth in the timeline, as well as age differences that didn't match up (he'd be much older or younger than his love in some of the lifetimes), which vaguely reminded me of 'The Time Traveler's Wife.' However, this book transitioned much smoother and I never found myself confused like I did sometimes in TTW.
I was unable to find anything wrong with this book, up until the last two pages. Rarely do I mind open endings if they're done right - leaving you with some sort of assurance that things will be resolved in the end. This book was an example of the wrong kind of open ending. (view spoiler)
It isn't fair that such a great book had such an unresolved ending. Had this been a first book in a series, this is what would have been called a cliffhanger, which would have been no big deal because there would have been a book 2 to look forward to. Unfortunately, this one appears to be a stand-alone, which makes me sad.
*edit* As of right now, book 2 is in limbo. If a book 2 does eventually happen, I will revise my review to reflect a more positive outlook.
Maybe the book didn't make it all the way across the room, but it was thrust off my lap with a certain amount of ferocity. Why, you ask? Because no book should EVER have the ending that I was just subjected to.
'My Name Is Memory' should have been a 5 star book. It was beautifully written, and I was captivated by the journey of one man traveling through several lifetimes, trying to right the wrongs that he had inflicted upon his one true love. With each new life Daniel was given, I followed him on the search for his "Sophia," and found myself hoping that this time would be "the time" that he would finally have her.
There was a bit of back-and-forth in the timeline, as well as age differences that didn't match up (he'd be much older or younger than his love in some of the lifetimes), which vaguely reminded me of 'The Time Traveler's Wife.' However, this book transitioned much smoother and I never found myself confused like I did sometimes in TTW.
I was unable to find anything wrong with this book, up until the last two pages. Rarely do I mind open endings if they're done right - leaving you with some sort of assurance that things will be resolved in the end. This book was an example of the wrong kind of open ending. (view spoiler)
It isn't fair that such a great book had such an unresolved ending. Had this been a first book in a series, this is what would have been called a cliffhanger, which would have been no big deal because there would have been a book 2 to look forward to. Unfortunately, this one appears to be a stand-alone, which makes me sad.
*edit* As of right now, book 2 is in limbo. If a book 2 does eventually happen, I will revise my review to reflect a more positive outlook.
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Reading Progress
| 11/24/2010 | page 88 |
|
27.0% | |
| 11/26/2010 | page 270 |
|
83.0% | "So achingly sweet..." |
Comments (showing 1-50 of 102) (102 new)
Yeah, it just really bummed me out. The whole book was phenomenal and to have it end in such a way that you have no idea what will or won't happen - what a letdown.
I had this in my To Try pile....it may be moved further down the list...the only book I ever came close to throwing was DreamFever....the only reason I did not was because I did not want to break the kindle
I wonder if I send the author mass emails, will it make her consider writing a sequel to this? The ending is so open that there really could be one, and then the book would redeem itself.
FYI, this is the first book in a trilogy. Obviously, the remaining books are yet to be released but I thought maybe I could spare you from future book violence. :-)
message 9:
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Stacia ~ Mistress of Mediocrity
(last edited Feb 03, 2011 10:12pm)
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rated it 3 stars
Are you kidding me? If so, I'm going to feel bad for bashing it so much! It's not labeled as number 1 of anything like most of the GR series/trilogy books are, and I've never heard or seen anything to indicate that it had a followup book. Oh man...I may have to go back and re-rate the thing if this is the case.
I know, it's not labeled like the first in a trilogy normally would be. A release date has even been mentioned for the second installment. The only reason I know this is from this line in the Publisher's Weekly review on Amazon:"A romance that stretches across centuries and past lives constitutes the core of Brashares's varied second adult novel, the first in a planned trilogy."
Also, My Name is Memory has already been optioned as a film. Looks like we'll be seeing lots more of Daniel and Lucy!
OMG..I swore at the ending, I actually said WTF but used the full phrase. the ending was so not fair.... so we know when book 2 and three are due out?!?
Oh, typo! I meant to say a release date HASN'T even been mentioned for the second installment...and trust me I have scoured the Internet looking for one. Could be quite a wait. :-(
Uhmmm... crushed... I thought this book was part of a series.... keep checking for new book... are you sure that it is a stand alone?
I really do hope there is a sequel because if the only part that sucked was the cliffhanger ending, the whole reason for me being upset would be magically fixed with a second book. I would probably go back and give it minimum 4 (maybe 5) stars if a sequel came out.
You should read 'Fallen' by Lauren Kate. Shes done 2 so far in the series, the 3rd is out this year. I swear these are the same books! Ive never read 'this' book but from the description, its the same thing, even pretty much down to the names! Its crazy! Anyway, Fallen has a better ending AND continues on to other books for you to enjoy x
message 19:
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Stacia ~ Mistress of Mediocrity
(last edited Mar 14, 2012 11:40pm)
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rated it 3 stars
Thank you so much for your comment and rec! I've read Fallen as well, and there's actually quite a few differences between the books. This one reads more like a historical fiction combined with a contemporary fiction and features humans living out their lives in various stages of history, whereas Fallen is absolutely a paranormal romance with focus on the fallen angels and the reform school. MNIM dealt with the characters changing ages and races throughout their lifetimes (sometimes one would be a child or an old person while the other was the opposite age), and they didn't always love each other the way Daniel and Luce did in Fallen. Other than the sketchy ending on this one (which may end up being redeemed if there's a sequel), I think this book was better. Fallen got a much lower rating from me because most of it dragged until the very end. Although, I am a fan of Cam.
Stacia--I had the EXACT SAME reaction. I too, lost my book throwing virginity on this book. (Does that make this book some kind of playah?) And I looked for some kind of indication on the book that this was the first of any type of series and nothing. My original rank was two stars because I was so irritated. Since I've discovered it's going to be a trilogy, I've amended...at least until I read the last book. ;)
Jenny wrote: "Does that make this book some kind of playah?..."Either that, or the book is a battered husband.
I completely agree with you- exactly what I felt in the end *sigh* Did the author just get tired or something???
message 25:
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Stacia ~ Mistress of Mediocrity
(last edited May 11, 2011 12:40am)
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rated it 3 stars
I'm curious if the author knew she'd be writing more books when she penned this one, or if the decision to make MNIM into a trilogy came after the book was released.
According to the discussion we've been having here, it's going to become a trilogy. I've never seen any real confirmation one way or the other, so we'll see.
Claire wrote: "You should read 'Fallen' by Lauren Kate. Shes done 2 so far in the series, the 3rd is out this year. I swear these are the same books! Ive never read 'this' book but from the description, its the s..."I agree. This author ripped off Lauren kate. It's crazy.
this is an old review but, yes, the ending is *fsdlfsdlfh and there still hasn't been any type of sequel information.
As I approached the last few pages, I would have sworn there must be pages missing. Loved the read but hated the ending!!!
I keep checking the net for new info, but it's all hearsay. I don't even think there was confirmation on the author's site the last time I checked, but that was a while ago.
It never fails, someone wants to talk to me, jump on me, call me, etc. right when I get to the best part of a book.
Just though I'd let everyone know that it's been confirmed for a trilogy... So don't stress so much about the cliffhanger ending :)
@Melissa, where did you see that? I check all the time and I even tweeted at RandomBuzzers but they had no clue? Link please!
I'm also curious. I've been checking the net to try and find solid information/confirmation about this book being a trilogy, and still nothing, not even on the author's site. My email has gone unanswered.
Variety reported in 2009 that there was a bidding war for the movie rights to the first book in "a three-book series by Ann Brashares." (New Regency got the deal for the first one.) So, it seems like it was always intended to be a trilogy and not just since Memory was published; it being reported in Variety lends "the rumor" some credence. When Ann Brashares wrote Sisterhood, she originally planned a four-novel arc, so it seems like this is how she operates.
I don't think I want to continue reading this based on your review. I know that you said it was a five star book until the last two pages, but that just sounds like such a dissapointment.
What I'd almost do is wait until there's some sort of firm date on the release of the second book. At least that way, if the cliffhanger bothers you, the next book will be available to pick up. I know that at this rate, I'm going to have to re-read the book if/when/before book 2 comes out.
There are only random articles saying that there will be, which is sort of unreliable. There is no hard evidence on the author's site, and I have yet to find any sort of title or release date for a second book. If anyone can provide us with some sort of recent information from the past 3 to 6 months with updated info, I'm sure we'd all would welcome it, but alas, no one seems to have any recent information. I agree with Dana, that the information being printed in Variety is more credible than what some random blogger or interviewer has to say, but since the information came from 2009, this means a lot could have changed since then. Even Variety has reported movie information that ended up changing at a later date. So the information might have been accurate at the time, but I can't say anything is set in stone until we have some more current info.At this point, I'm assuming that the author has stated her intentions to write a trilogy, but she isn't in any hurry to do so. Sometimes things get pushed to the wayside in favor of other projects.
Oh, well. I am just not going to read anymore. I just got the first book in the Night Huntress series on Kindle for $1.99. I think I'll just read that :) I'll wait for the whole trilogy to come out before I pick this book up again.
I was reading through Ann Brashares blog and found this (slightly) more hopeful indication of a sequel to come. A fan asked when the sequel would come out and, though she didn't indicate a time frame, Brashares replied with, "I’m touched that [you] and your daughter can share in their story. As soon as I know I promise to post it on the blog!" Grasping at straws here, but I think that means that there is definitely a sequel on its way. The comment was posted back in August.
Becca wrote: "I read that this is the 1st book of a trilogy. There are supposedly a planned 2 more."Good news, thanks!
I HATE books that end like you just described. Its like, why even bother writing the whole book if you're just going to leave the reader hanging? Especially when the rest of the book is great? D: